Skip to content

Jesus Bikers rev up support for charity with motorcycle for Pope Leo XIV

A group of black-clad bikers rumbled into St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday to present Pope Leo XIV with a custom cruiser motorcycle destined for charity.

A group of black-clad bikers rumbled into St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday to present Pope Leo XIV with a custom cruiser motorcycle destined for charity.

LeoMoto1
Pope Leo XIV poses on a custom BMW R 18 papal motorcycle gifted to him by the Christian Jesus Bikers at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025 | Credit: Vatican Media

The pope met members of the Christian Jesus Bikers at the end of his general audience at the Vatican on Sept. 3. The motorcycle club rolled into Rome for a Jubilee of Hope pilgrimage after a three-day day ride from Schaafheim, Germany.

Fr. Karl Wallner, OCist. stands next to Pope Leo XIV as he signs a custom-made BMW R 18 motorcycle after his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter's Square on Sept. 3, 2025. The cruiser will be sold at auction to raise funds for children in Madagascar. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News
Fr. Karl Wallner, OCist. stands next to Pope Leo XIV as he signs a custom-made BMW R 18 motorcycle after his Wednesday general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Sept. 3, 2025. The cruiser will be sold at auction to raise funds for children in Madagascar. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News

The pope blessed and signed the white BMW R 18 motorcycle before briefly climbing onto the seat to the bikers’ applause.

The custom-designed papal motorcycle will be auctioned off in Munich on Oct. 18, and the funds will benefit children working in mica mines in Madagascar through Missio Austria.

The director of Missio Austria, Father Karl Wallner, OCist., told EWTN News on Wednesday that the point of the pilgrimage was “not just fun and coming to see the pope, but also to help the poorest of the poor” through the project for exploited children.

Wallner said Pope Leo appeared to like the motorcycle a lot. At the audience, “he told the CEO of BMW that he himself liked to drive the motorcycle. So I think we have the first motorcycling pope…”

The custom BMW R 18 papal motorcycle gifted to Pope Leo XIV by the Christian Jesus Bikers is seen at St. Magdalena Church, Altötting, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News
The custom BMW R 18 papal motorcycle gifted to Pope Leo XIV by the Christian Jesus Bikers is seen at St. Magdalena Church, Altötting, Germany, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News

The two-cylinder boxer engine cruiser was given a papal redesign by the Witzel company in Germany, before taking to the road for the biker pilgrimage, which included daily Mass in churches along the way to Rome.

Around 30 members of the Jesus Bikers club also processed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica before attending Mass together on Sept. 3.

One of the motorcyclists at the Sept. 3 audience, a Protestant from Berlin who goes by the name “Rocky,” told EWTN News he joined the Jesus Bikers after finding the club on the Internet.

Members of the Jesus Biker Club link arms in St. Peter's Square on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News
Members of the Jesus Biker Club link arms in St. Peter’s Square on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Credit: Rudolf Gehrig/EWTN News

“The honesty and freedom attracted me,” Rocky said. “It’s not like other motorcycle clubs, where I have to prove myself for a year and perform certain rituals. I was accepted here, and a year later, I received my robe. You just have to be baptized, believe in Jesus Christ, and have a motorcycle. We want to pray, ride, and do good.”

Claus Dempewolf, who is responsible for those interested in joining the motorcycle club, expressed his satisfaction with the first leg of the ride in an interview with EWTN News earlier this week.

“The weather was perfect, the roads were good,” he said. 

When asked who ultimately decides whether or not someone can become a member of the Jesus Bikers, Dempewolf replied: “That’s decided by our president and our road captain; our president is Jesus Christ, our road captain is the Holy Spirit.”

Pope Francis was an honorary member of the Jesus Bikers, which have over 100 members worldwide. The Argentinian pope also received a white motorcycle from the group in 2019.

Pope Francis also received two Harley-Davidson motorcycles and a motorcycle jacket in 2013 from Harley owners who gathered at the Vatican during a Rome celebration of the 110th anniversary of the iconic American street bikes.

One of the Harley Davidsons, with papal autograph, and the leather jacket brought in more than $350,000 for a Rome charity at an auction in 2014.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER HERE

Hannah Brockhaus contributed to this CNA article.

Receive the most important news from EWTN Vatican via WhatsApp. It has become increasingly difficult to see Catholic news on social media. Subscribe to our free channel today

Share

Would you like to receive the latest updates on the Pope and the Vatican

Receive articles and updates from our EWTN Newsletter.

More news related to this article

Synodal Showdown: 4 Key Questions as the German Synodal Way Begins Its Final Assembly

Will the German bishops cross the Vatican’s line? And why are the ‘good’ bishops still participating? Here are

Remembering Benedict XVI: 10 Quotes on Love, Death, Hope, Mary, and Marriage

With the early morning news of the passing of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the Catholic Church and the

Meet 7 of the best-known saints canonized by Pope Benedict XVI

During his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI beatified 870 people and canonized a total of 45 saints. Though his

Pope Francis to publish apostolic letter on St. Thérèse of Lisieux Oct. 15

On board the plane taking him to Mongolia, Pope Francis announced Aug. 31 that he is preparing an

Pope Francis Will Visit this Italian City in July 2024

Pope Francis will visit the Italian city of Trieste on July 7, 2024, to close the 50th Social Week of Catholics in Italy.

Vatican: Benedict XVI under medical care as health takes sudden turn

The Vatican confirmed Wednesday that pope emeritus Benedict XVI has experienced a sudden decline in his health, but

LIVE
FROM THE VATICAN

Be present live on EWTNit